Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“I thought we might go for a walk,” she says.
We step down into a crisp fall evening. The sidewalk is mostly cleared, though dry, crunchy leaves blow across the street and crackle under our feet. Valentina walks at a slow pace, her hands shoved into the pockets of her jacket, and her hair blows around her face as she looks out across the houses.
“I thought you might want a break from all that,” she says, glancing at me. “I mean, they’re not going to say anything you haven’t heard already.”
“I don’t know. I’m pretty invested at this point. You know, since whatever happens will totally change my life.”
She laughs lightly and shakes her head. “Ah, come on. That’s dramatic.”
“Isn’t it though?”
“Here’s the thing about guys like Julien. Even if this whole situation blows up, he’ll find a way to come back out on top one day. That’s just the sort of person he is.”
“I’m glad you have such unwavering faith.”
She waves a hand, shaking her head. “Not at all, it’s just that, these boys have been feuding with each other for way too long. I’m looking forward to it all being over.”
We walk in silence for a little while. I’m thinking about all the different ways this could go wrong and what the worst-case scenarios might be. If Julien has to go back to France and start over, would I go with him? Would I stay here and start all over again?
I can’t imagine waking up without him anymore, but this is my home.
“Can I ask you something?” I ask, still trying to get my thoughts in order. “How did you know when things were right between you and Ronan?”
Her eyebrows raise. “That’s an interesting question. What makes you ask?”
“I don’t know. Just curious, I guess.” I feel a little awkward and embarrassed. Not that long ago, this woman was married to the boss of my family. I never exactly looked up to her, but I respected her at least.
Now we’re peers in a strange way.
“This is going to sound extremely corny, so please don’t judge me.”
“I think I’m way beyond judging anyone right about now.”
“I knew it was real when I realized we fixed each other.”
I slow and study her. For a second, I think she’s messing with me, but no, her face is utterly sincere. “That’s not corny. It’s just not what I expected.”
“What did you expect then?”
“I don’t know. You figured out your lives were compatible or something like that.”
“No, that sort of stuff is easy. That’s just logistics.” Valentina shoves her hands deeper in her jacket pockets. “Ronan brings out the best in me. He believed in me when nobody else did. And I think I challenge him in ways he really needs. We make each other better, and when I realized we fixed each other’s flaws instead of amplifying them, I knew what we had was real.”
Fixed each other’s flaws. I think about that as we continue our walk around the block. Julien definitely makes me feel like a stronger, more in control person than I ever have been before. Being with him is like a masterclass in confidence.
But do I fix him? Do I make him better? I don’t even know how I could possibly answer those questions.
“I’m guessing your relationship with Julien is changing,” Valentina says after a little while. She looks at me sideways and seems like she’s trying not to smile. “Maybe it’s changing for the better?”
“I don’t know. It feels that way, but everything’s just so—” I make a vague up in the air gesture.
“If you want my advice, I’d tell you to go for it. Whatever you’re feeling for Julien, let yourself feel. Don’t hold back just because you’re nervous.”
“We’re not exactly in a good place to start exploring our relationship.”
“It’s never a good place, honestly, not with men like this. If you like being with him, then be with him. Quiet all those nagging doubts.”
“That’s not really easy for me.”
Valentina nods slowly. “I heard about your father. I’m sorry, Brianne. I really am. I didn’t know he was such a bastard.”
“I didn’t tell anyone,” I admit, and saying it out loud makes me feel like such an idiot. Why didn’t I ask for help sooner? Why didn’t I go to Ronan and let him know what was going on? Instead, I took the abuse, almost like I thought I deserved it.
Now, with distance and time, I can see that it was never about me.
It was always about my father.
“You’ve survived a lot already,” Valentina says. “It’s not easy growing up in a family like this. Trust me, I know.” Her laugh is bitter and sad. I know the stories about her: once upon a time, she had a rich and powerful father. She was a mafia princess, given everything, pampered and spoiled. But then her father was killed by the Biancos, and her whole life was ripped to shreds.